When speaking to door and window manufacturers at the GlassBuild America show last week, DWM editor Tara Taffera asked them what they were looking for at the show, whether it be new machines, hardware or components. Whatever the product, there is no doubt companies were window shopping.

“We are looking for new ideas, what’s new and exciting,” says Dan Ochstein, CEO, Doers Window Manufacturing, Tampa, Fla. “We are looking for more automation from bending equipment … We are always looking for new glass innovations as well.”

So what really caught his interest?

“The Erdman machine we saw will help us speed up production,” he says. “Many companies are showing bi-fold doors and I am seeing a lot of products with fiberglass and composites,” he says.

Other items of interest cited by manufacturers on the show floor include GED’s new vinyl cleaning system. “It will be interesting to see if it saves time,” says one manufacturer.